A Corner Table in My World

With one thing or another I never did get around to sharing any of our Christmas shenanigans after the New Year. Well for the most part they were pretty much what we’ve come to expect and experience over the last several years – 4+ different days of Christmas dinners, family time, gift giving, game playing, catching up and having fun. As I’ve mentioned in previous years, as our extended families have grown larger and spread further afield, our Christmas celebrations have become larger, longer affairs that simply can’t be accomplished in one day. So here’s a brief breakdown of all this years celebrations’ parts… 

While I do have some photos and stories to share from the holidays, something I'll do soon, I first have to talk about something else....  The break from school was something that my children obviously needed. Before the holiday break I had two little girls who were behaving like sullen teenagers (and okay, one of them is nearly there but God not YET) and a boy who was well behaved (because he had goals...) but was increasingly frustrated with his sisters, school and even some of his friends.  Getting the girls up and moving for school was a FIGHT every day. Getting any of them to do their chores was damn near impossible. There were a lot of threats and 'time-outs' spent alone in bedrooms - for all three of them.  But then we had a really good holiday break.  We spent almost all of the time together as a family. Chores were done together, games were played together, competitions were had (between the kids), and there were only a couple nights we weren't ...

Every year at Christmastime we spend a great deal of time with our families. This past Christmas was no different.  Our first celebration of the year is always with Heli Dad's side of the family.  This day is always fun and the kids especially always love it, as all the cousins that have been of an age to play with are on this side.  It was a day of fun conversation and planning get-togethers for the coming year and more!   For several days before Christmas the kids and I went through bins and bins of clothes that we've "put away" to give away at some point.  That point finally came (as it hadn't at any time in the past) and we gave tons of clothes away to charity.  Both the kids and I were amazed by how much there was to give away, and hope that everything passed on will find a new home with someone who will appreciate it.   We made/started a new tradition this year of decorating the tree (with the hanging décor) on Christmas Eve.  In the p...

He's been making his list, and checking it multiple times, but Santa might be a little bit confused about WHERE exactly he's supposed to be delivering our presents this year!  No big surprise there, but with a 6-yr-old who at times is too smart for my own good, trying to explain how Santa knows where to take the Christmas presents, and why he takes them to multiple places is starting to become a bit tricky! Image via Wikipedia And Christmas shopping? One of the scariest things I have to do each year.  What to get, what NOT to get, what the kids need vs. what they want vs. what I want lying around my house for the next few years... It's almost too much! (LOL!)  Then of course, I have to consider what I've got to get rid of inorder to make space for whatever they'll be getting new.  Like I said, a scary prospect all around! Anyways, I'm gonna go. I've got to put a Christmas tree up.  And prep the boy's room for an early present...   If I don't g...